So, What’s the AG-ACNP Exam Like?

/ Exam Prep / By / September 2, 2025
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What to Expect on the AGACNP Exam

(With excerpts from Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Q&A Review, by Dawn Carpenter, DNP, ACNP-BC)

It pays to be mentally prepared for what’s to come on exam day! Here’s an overview of what you can expect—from exam format to timing and everything in between.

About the Credential

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) certification is offered by either:

  • ANCC – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGACNP-BC)

  • AACN – Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certified in Adult-Gerontology (ACNPC-AG®)

Both exams are administered by PSI Services and are valid for five years.

Exam Format

The AGACNP exams are delivered as computer-based tests (CBT). You’ll complete the exam in one sitting and receive your Pass/Fail result immediately, along with raw and scaled scores.

  • ANCC exam: 200 multiple-choice questions

  • AACN exam: 175 multiple-choice questions

Question Breakdown and Timing

Each exam includes pretest questions (25 for ANCC; included in AACN’s total as well). These do not count toward your score but are indistinguishable from scored items—so answer every question as if it matters.

  • ANCC exam: 4 hours total testing time

  • AACN exam: 3.5 hours total testing time

Content Focus

ANCC Exam:

  • Clinical Practice: 46%

  • APRN Core Competencies: 16%

  • Role, Professional Responsibility, & Healthcare Systems: 38%

AACN Exam:

  • Clinical Judgment: 73%

  • Professional Caring & Ethical Practice: 26%

👉 View the ANCC Exam Blueprint
👉 View the AACN Exam Blueprint

Resources

  • Carpenter, D. (2018). Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Q&A Review. New York: Springer Publishing.

  • AACN Certification Corporation. (n.d.). ACNPC-AG® Exam Handbook. Link

  • American Nurses Credentialing Center. (n.d.). Test Content Outline. Link

  • PSI Candidate Services. (n.d.). Link

See also  Tips to Maximize Your Nurse Practitioner Exam Score - Download Now!

Related Resource

👉 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Certification Overview

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